Welcome - If this is your first visit you will find a "Welcome Introduction' message and a link to "Prayer Reflections" located on top right side of page.
My prayer today is that "Abba will saturate you with His grace, mercy & peace. Please sit down comfortably, relax with a cuppa & enjoy!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I've heard it. I've read it. As long as I have been running, it's always been the same message: "drink plenty of water."

All along most race courses are water stations, and most runners slow down to drink a cup of cool water. Keeping your water level up is critical when you run. If you get slightly dehydrated, you will not run well. If you get moderately dehydrated, you will become disoriented. If you get seriously dehydrated, you can die. It's serious business.

The first year I ran was 1991, and I was inexperienced (also younger, slimmer, stupider, etc.) I passed water stop after water stop, occasionally drinking a swallow or two. I felt good, and I wasn't going to waste precious seconds drinking water, even though it was a hot, humid day.

Big mistake. As I neared the final mile, I "hit the wall." My energy level dropped to zero, I began having to walk some, and I realized I would have to work hard just to finish. I did make it across the line, but only with a tremendous headache and hardly enough energy to walk. It was not much fun.

I learned an important lesson that year. Stopping for water doesn't actually slow you down. In fact, you will run a better race if you do drink water. The bottom line is that your body is simply not designed to function without water.

In the same way, your spiritual stamina depends on stopping for regular drinks of "spiritual water." The dilemma for busy believers is finding time to invest in reading the Word and meeting with God in prayer. Like the runner intent on reaching the finish line, we tend to put off those regular drinks of water until we are totally parched.

But in the long run, you will run a better race if you will stop for spiritual water. In fact, finishing the Christian race at all may depend on it. And runners who don't ever slow down to take a drink often stumble off the course far short of the finish line.

In this year's race, I saw a man become dehydrated just a mile from the finish. Strangely, he didn't seem to recognize that anything was wrong. He was swaying from side to side as he walked, mumbling over and over, "I'm fine. I'm fine." He was so disoriented that he didn't even recognize his own sick condition.

If you let yourself become spiritually dehydrated, you may not even be able to recognize it. Stop today to drink some cool "living water." For serious runners, it's a must.~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday, May 6, 2010

VERSE: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." -- Joel 2:28

THOUGHT: Throughout the Old Testament, God's Spirit would come upon special leaders or agents of God's will to do his work. Most of the time, the Spirit's presence would be temporary, to help with a pressing issue, need, problem, or battle.

In a few cases, like David, God's Spirit never departed from God's servant. But the presence of the Spirit living permanently inside all of God's people was the promise of the coming of the Messiah and the formation of God's new people. This promise from Joel 2 is the centerpiece Scripture quoted by Peter in his sermon during Pentecost. This day, promised by Joel's prophecy, comes with the dawn of the church and signaled by the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit first comes to those who proclaim the story of Jesus, but then to all who hear the message, believe, and respond by being baptized, on this day and all the days of conversion to follow (Acts 2:38-39). We live in the age of the Spirit!

PRAYER:Thank you! Thank you O God, for allowing me to live in the time of your church. Forgive me when I discount your power released in and through her through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for not responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to be conformed to the character and compassion of Jesus. Forgive me for the times I've grieved the Spirit by saying unkind things about others in whom the Spirit lives. I ask, dear Father, in the name of Jesus, that your Holy Spirit have more influence on my heart and in shaping my life. Amen.

Source: SpiritFire! from HEARTLIGHT http://www.heartlight.org/spiritfire The SpiritFire daily devotional email is written by Phil Ware and is part of Heartlight.org's online Christian resources. SpiritFire is a year long devotional walk focused on the blessing of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

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Welcome Introduction

Welcome to a new series I have started called "Reflection Jewels" that I believe Abba has laid on my heart to do.

My prayer for you is that as you read these "Reflection Jewels' they will motivate & inspire you to read Gods word more often. Also you will receive fresh revelation, direction were needed & encouragement - enjoy!

Many ask, "How do you know what to send or post that just meets my need?" The truth is I don’t - All I know is that I receive many messages & after praying & reading I feel led to lay aside certain select messages written by many anointed men & women of God. At a later date I just follow those gentle prompts of the Holy Spirit when to post - if I do not have peace I delay.

God knows the needs of each of His children and the word or encouragement is already prepared waiting for you. Remember You are precious to Abba!

One day I was watching a fascinating program called "Survival In the Bush' presented by Malcolm Douglas in the wild rugged outback of Australia. - In one of the stories he helped a lady find small deposits of gold using a 'gold detector' - they also had great fun panning for gold in the river this left deposits of murky lumps of rock in their bowl. Afterwards they then went back to her small factory & went step by step through a very old process were there collection was cleaned, tumbled, filtered, treated with chemicals this process continued until till there were only small nuggets of gold remaining, these then went through another process of heating until at the end she had a solid block of pure gold.

As I was watching I kept thinking how reading Gods word the Bible can be compared to this process. As we read the word "panning the gold in the stream" we find precious words 'gold dust'. The more we continue reading, meditating, soaking & studying Gods word we find more precious nuggets of gold or jewels. Thus the idea to call these messages "Jewels' was born.

I strongly believe the Lord is putting out a call to His people (all of us) to come into a deeper place spiritually, giving us a deeper understanding, and a deeper love for Him. "Deep calleth unto deep.." (Psalms 42:7a)

One of the ways we can do this is to read & meditate or reflect upon the Word of God. This should be a part of our regular and constant spiritual discipline.

To those who already read the word frequently may you be refreshed & revisit some of those familiar passages with fresh eyes.

I found helpful reading and comparing a different translation to my usual daily trusted version. I also found it refreshing with a different bible not having my pencil & highlighter marks to distract from fresh revelation. I suggest before reading you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you new truths as you mine for new jewels in His word. Be blessed as you read today!

Psalm 119:11 says,Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. As we become soaked & filled with the word in our hearts the Spirit of God will enlighten our understanding & when needed bring to mind the word that is needed.

The Scriptures describe the kingdom of God as treasure. Matthew 13:44-46 NIV" The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Suggestion: Pray as you read and meditate on God's Word. Praise God for what He has revealed of Himself and pray for strength and wisdom to obey His direction. Try also reading some prayers of the Bible (Matt. 6:9-13; Ephesians I: 15-23; 3: 14-21 and many of the Psalms).

Please note: Some of the messages have links that if used may take you away from the message – to return just click the ‘back’ button at the top left hand corner of your screen.

If you wish to return to the Home page of the SWPW site lease scan to the top of the page & press the arrow ‘back” or go direct via the link: http://www.swpwarriors.com/

Please feel free to print out or copy the ‘reflections’ for personal use. All messages are referenced (were known) & permission sought to use. I do ask you to respect at all times copyright of all Authors & the SWPW site.

If you would like to be on my mailing list for "Reflection Jewel updates' & encouragements please write to me at

Bible Translations

Which Version Should we Use:

I do not wish to get stuck in debate which Bible Translation one should use - Personally I prefer & regularly use the King James Version of the bible - however when studying a scripture I like to read & compare other translations - each must decide for themselves - please find a list below of abbreviations & what they mean:

Bible Translations:

KJV - King James VersionNKJV - New King James VersionNIV - New International VersionNLT - New Living TranslationCEV - Contemporary English VersionESV - English Standard VersionMSG - The MessageNASB - New American Standard BibleRSV - Revised Standard Version